Glitter and Gold
Chapter 3
27 ABY – Mid Rim Territories
Vex trained hard with her battalion every day without fail. She had started with just ten men when she was thirteen, and within a month, twenty. Four years later, she had five units of twenty clones under her command. They were one of the most elite emerging battalions, with their dedicated training and ability to move seamlessly as a group.
Vex knew what it was like to be volunteered for a cause you didn't choose. The clones had been bred for this, yes, but Vex thought it still held true. Her first order of business in training her clones was to teach them to support each other and how she wasn't above them. Vex got down and dirty to work through the training maneuvers with them every day – emphasizing that she would support them as they were there to carry out her orders.
She wasn't like Kylo Ren, who threw fits and killed Stormtroopers in the midst of his tantrums. Vex kept a cool head in most matters – she'd never yet lost her temper in front of her troops – and didn't plan to. She cared about them, in her way, as confused as it was. They treated Vex almost like a little sister – they were protective, they teased her – they were her escape from the misery of her life.
They were ready for deployment, ready to receive their Stormtrooper uniforms – the ones Vex had specially designed for them. Their body armor would be black with a red chest-piece. On the right shoulder would be Vex's insignia – a red flower outline encased in a black circle.
Any day now, her ship, the Vexation would arrive, and her battalion would leave for their first mission. Vex was both apprehensive and elated at the idea.
Kylo Ren had already been out on missions – but he was older than her at twenty-two years old versus her seventeen. It was a small comfort knowing that he hadn't been given a command post or unit as she had.
Vex was in the middle of working through an exercise with Unit Delta when her commlink chirped. She paused, answering it. "Lady Vex, Supreme Leader Snoke awaits you in his throne room." Commander Hux stated over the link.
Armitage Hux was the son of Brendol Hux, the man who'd led the stormtroopers to take Vex from her home all those years ago. Vex thought Armitage was a twat, but they shared a mutual dislike of her father. With that common ground, they worked well together. They also commiserated over Kylo Ren's bratty behavior when the occasion called for it.
"Alright. I'll be right there," she said, terminating the link. Then Vex was promptly hit in the face with a towel.
"Thought you'd want to clean up before going to the Supreme Leader," SN-1347 said, smirking from a few feet away.
Vex rolled her eyes as she dried her face and neck. "Thanks," she said dryly. "Carry on – I'll return if I can," she instructed, jogging towards the door.
"Be careful," another cautioned. One of her younger clones, CC-1431 always seemed wary of when she was called away. He was one of her favorites.
Vex flashed a grin back at them. "Always am," she said, pressing the button to open the doors. She stepped through and into the nearest elevator. She took the few moments inside to right her appearance – quickly re-braiding her hair neatly and straightening her clothes.
The elevator opened a short way from Snoke's throne room, so Vex took the last few moments along the path to draw deep, calming breaths to prepare herself. This was not their time for training – she didn't know what she'd be walking into.
Vex entered Snoke's throne room to see two people kneeling before her master. A man and a woman. "Come to me, my child," Snoke said, holding out a hand to her. After a moment, she stepped forward and past the kneeling couple to stand beside him and lay her hand on his upturned palm.
"What is it, Master?" she asked, her curious gaze darting to the man and woman who knelt before him. They never moved. Never looked up. When she looked closely, she noticed the woman's hands were trembling.
Snoke's expression was split by a smile. Vex knew his expressions by now. That one was not one of pride or joy. He was up to something. Something unpleasant, she was sure. "Your ship, the Vexation, has finally arrived, Vex. I thought you would take interest in meeting the man who had it built." Snoke said. Vex lifted an eyebrow, glancing back to the pair before her. "Do you not recognize them, my child? Rise," Snoke ordered.
The man and woman stood. The man did not offer his hand to the woman despite her apparent unsteadiness. Vex's lips thinned. As she examined them, they kept their faces downcast still – refusing to look at her.
They were both weak-looking, in luxurious clothing. They were thin and well-kempt, clearly unused to any sort of physical labor. There was something about the two that tugged at Vex's unconscious, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She turned back to her master, shaking her head lightly.
"Tell her who you are." Snoke ordered.
The man lifted his head, looking at Vex for the first time. The blue of his eyes were familiar. She knew them – saw them in the mirror every morning. Vex tensed, the hand at her side curling into a fist. The woman looked up more reluctantly, shaking out a mane of burgundy hair not unlike Vex's own. Her cheekbones cut across her face, giving the woman an almost exotic look with her tanned olive skin. Traits Vex shared.
"I am Vane Valorum. My wife, Venesia," the man said, gesturing to the woman. Vex turned back to Snoke, eyes wide. His hand tightened on hers.
"We are your parents," Venesia said, voice trembling.
"Yes, my child. These are the people who threw you away." Snoke said. "The ones who brought you into this world and then so cruelly ignored you. Betrayed you."
Vex sucked in a deep breath, her fist tightening as Snoke's grip on her other hand tightened. "We did what we thought best," Vane said, though his expression was uncertain.
"You thought it best you abandon your only child?" Vex said, her hand slipping from her master's grip. Her grip on her temper was tenuous at best, and she was spiraling towards the edge – closer to breaking than she ever had before.
Vane and Venesia simply stared at her. "It's the truth, isn't it? You never wanted me, so when you saw what I could do you knew you could get rid of me!" Vex shouted.
"That's not true!" Venesia said.
"Then tell me, mother," Vex spat. "I'd love to hear how you thought you were helping me,"
Venesia heaved a sigh. "When I saw what you could do, I knew you could hurt someone. Hurt yourself. And you were always such an angry little girl-"
"-I was angry because you ignored me!" Vex cut in.
"We didn't call for the First Order, Vex. We put out word to see if Luke Skywalker would take you on," Vane said. Vex's lips parted, mind whirling. "The First Order arrived first. We knew it was useless to fight," he continued.
"This isn't what we wanted for you, Vex," Venesia said softly.
The First Order raised you, my child. Nurtured you. Trained you into the glorious warrior you are today, Snoke's voice whispered into her mind.
But they didn't betray me, Vex thought.
If you had joined Luke Skywalker's temple, you would be dead, Snoke reminded her. Vex closed her eyes tightly, sorting through her emotions. After a few moments, she opened them, gazing at her parents.
"Is that the truth? Is that what you would say if you didn't fear for your life right now?" Vex questioned, anger in her voice. Vane and Venesia mere looked at her, saying nothing. "That's what I thought," she laughed bitterly.
Vex stepped down from the platform to approach her parents. They shrank back. "Whatever you did or didn't do, it changes nothing. I am still here, Supreme Leader Snoke's apprentice and a Sith lord. You still mistreated me when I was yours. Whatever you wanted for me – this is what you chose. You no longer have a daughter, and I no longer have a mother or father," Vex said, hands clenched tightly at her sides. "Go, before I change my mind!"
Vane and Venesia scurried from the room eagerly, not looking back once. "Well, I can't say I didn't hope you'd kill them," Snoke admitted in a regretful tone.
"Why did you make me face them, Master?" Vex questioned – dropping to her knees before him.
Snoke reached out, brushing a hand over her head. "A test, my child. I was curious to see if you could put aside your own wants and emotions. As much as I hate to admit it, I know you do not share all of my ideals. I had to know if you could put that aside in order to carry out my directives," he explained.
"Did I pass?" Vex asked.
Snoke smirked. "Yes, my child. Tomorrow morning you will ship out on your first mission."
"What is it?" she said eagerly.
Snoke chuckled. "There is a small group of resistance fighters on Gan Moradir. You will lead your battalion there and wipe them out," Snoke said. Vex nodded. "Return to your unit and prepare them for leaving tomorrow first thing," he instructed.
Vex started towards the door, only for his voice to stop her. "One more thing…" she turned back to face him. "Commander Hux will join you as your council. He will be there to supervise and help if necessary." He said.
"Thank you, Master," Vex said in surprise. She couldn't deny that it was a relief. She had not left the Supremacy in the twelve years she'd been Snoke's apprentice. Having Hux along would be an annoying yet useful safety net.
Snoke's ominous voice followed her as she left the throne room, issuing orders to her units through her commlink. Do not fail me, Vex Valorum.
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